Coaches Corner - John Davis
Today we’re celebrating a great coach who continues to give his time and expertise to all who ask for it, John Davis.
John is a deeply committed coach who finds immense joy in helping athletes grow—not just in performance, but as people. With decades of experience, John is passionate about building community through athletics, he is a lifelong learner and very generous with his time, make sure you say '“hi” to him if you see him around the track!
We were lucky enough to quickly catch up with John to understand what drives his passion for the sport.
What do you get out of coaching?
I get a lot of joy, a lot of joy from watching people develop and become a better person and build communities. I just love the idea of contributing to the athletic community and allowing people to become their best.
What do you think makes a great coach?
A great coach is somebody who can communicate with their athletes and also go out and get some knowledge and experience, build the skills up for coaching, and then give them away. Coaching is a gift to give away.
“Athletics is one of the most amazing and diverse sports to get involved with because it gives so many different types of athletes a chance to succeed. I love building that community, it brings a lot of joy to parents, athletes, their friends, and also to their coaches.”
What has been the best moment you've experienced as a coach?
One that comes to mind is when our school, Brisbane State High School, won the girls cross country after 14 years of trying and getting thirds and seconds. We broke through and ended a 20-year winning streak from another school. It was fantastic because it was such a big effort with more than a hundred girls involved, along with their families and friends. It was a delight. There have also been successes at the national level, but at a school level, Brisbane State High School winning the girls’ cross country after 14 years was probably one of the finest things I’ve experienced.
What would you say to someone who’s thinking about getting into coaching?
I’d say go for it. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience. You learn a lot about yourself and about others, and it's a way to give back to a community and help people become better.
What’s been your biggest challenge as a coach?
I was in the school system for 45 years. The biggest challenge was the time commitment. I loved getting up in the morning and doing coaching, building athletics teams, but I also had to teach. You’d leave home in the dark and come back in the dark, wonder where the week went, and catch up on the weekends. You didn’t have much of a life outside of coaching. But there were a lot of fun moments.
If you have a coach who’s currently experiencing that (burnout/time challenge), what would your advice be for getting through it?
Always have a mentor. I’ve had many great mentors, from when I first started teaching to working alongside experienced level four and five coaches. Never be afraid to ask. I think having a mentor is one of the most amazing experiences, and I still have mentors, even (mentors) younger than me. You need a mentor.
If an athlete wants to give you some recognition or thanks, what’s the best way for them to do that?
Come up and shake my hand after the race and say thanks. That’s all I ask for. Just the joy of sharing their success back with me.
Are there any other comments you’d like to share with the coaching community?
Athletics is one of the most amazing and diverse sports to get involved with because it gives so many different types of athletes a chance to succeed. I love building that community, it brings a lot of joy to parents, athletes, their friends, and also to their coaches.